Stimulants are often known as “uppers” because they make the user more alert, attentive, and energetic. Stimulating substances are used for various reasons, including performance enhancement, medical benefits, and recreational purposes.

The most commonly used stimulant in the world is caffeine; other examples are amphetamines, cocaine, and prescription drugs to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep disorders.

Side Effects and Risks

As with all substances, stimulants have various side effects and can risk a person’s health. Abusing these substances by taking them in greater doses, more frequently than prescribed, or using non-prescribed stimulants can negatively impact a person’s life and health and lead to addiction. Generally, stimulants prescribed by a doctor are safe to use at stipulated levels. Stimulant use should be monitored and controlled, as stimulants, even prescription ones, can be addictive.

We can help you to understand more about what it means to be addicted to stimulants and provide trustworthy information to enable you to break free.

Types of stimulants

Prescription stimulants: These medications often come in pills or tablets. Commonly prescribed psychostimulants include well-known brands that are used to treat ADHD and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy; these include:
Dexedrine: Dextroamphetamine. Commonly prescribed to treat ADHD in adults and children.
Adderall: Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination. Used to treat ADHD, narcolepsy and, less frequently, depression.
Ritalin, Concerta: Methylphenidate. A well-known treatment for ADHD, especially in children.
Illegal stimulants: Examples of illegal stimulants include methamphetamine, ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine, crack cocaine, methcathinone, and other synthetic cathinones. Stimulants have many street names, including speed, coke, uppers, snow, and vitamin R.

What Do Stimulants Do?

Stimulants speed up communication between the body and the brain by activating the central nervous system and increasing neurotransmitters, including dopamine and norepinephrine. An increase in dopamine in the brain provides an instant sense of euphoria and reward, which can cause someone to take the substance repeatedly to experience this feeling. Use of illegal stimulants or abuse of prescribed stimulants often involves smoking, snorting, or injecting to provide a quicker reaction or “rush.”

During the initial phase of use, stimulants make users feel more energetic, confident, and alert; however, once the drug’s effect wears off and the dopamine level has been lowered, they can feel exhausted and depressed.

Some stimulating substances have other properties as well. Ecstasy (MDMA), for example, has the properties of both a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Similarly, cannabis can be viewed as a stimulant in small doses and a depressant in larger quantities.

While all stimulants affect the central nervous system and the chemicals in the brain, they work in different ways. For example, the effects of methamphetamine are longer lasting than cocaine, meaning it remains in the brain for longer, resulting in prolonged stimulant effects and an increased risk of becoming addicted.

How Many People Use Stimulants?

Prescription Stimulant Use

A 2018 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) release stated that approximately 6.6% (or 16 million) of U.S. adults used prescription stimulants in 2017. Of these people, 11 million used their prescription stimulants appropriately, while 2.1% of the remainder misused them at least once, and 0.2% had prescription stimulant use disorders. While the vast majority of patients used their medication as prescribed, this still leaves around 5 million people who had misused stimulants.

Illegal Stimulant Use

To accurately represent the extent of illicit stimulant misuse, one must look at some of the most popular stimulant drugs individually. Information regarding drug use statistics in the U.S. in 2018 states that there were the following numbers of users:

Methamphetamine – 1.8 million
Ecstasy/MDMA (classed as a hallucinogenic stimulant due to its dual properties) – 2.5 million
Cocaine – 5.5 million
Crack cocaine – 0.75 million

What Are the Risks of Stimulant Use?

Using prescription or illicit drugs has side effects, withdrawal symptoms, and risks to a person’s health and well-being. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) advises that the severity of the side effects can vary depending on several factors, including the combination of substances used, route of administration, potency, dosage, and level of prior use. The effects can be short or long-term and include:

Short-term Effects of Stimulant Use

The following side effects can appear within hours or days and are usually experienced temporarily with controlled use of stimulants:

Accelerated heart rate
Vasoconstriction
Increased blood pressure
Elevated body temperature
Panic attacks
Paranoia
Hostility
Fatigue
Depression
Changes in appetite leading to weight loss or obesity
Impaired memory

Long-term Effects of Using Stimulants

Using stimulants more frequently and in higher doses for a prolonged period can lead to addiction or stimulant use disorder. There are many long-term health problems related to this type of stimulant abuse, including:

Changes to the brain: A stimulant use disorder changes a person’s brain in two major ways. Firstly, it can affect brain functions such as long-term memory and the ability to learn new things. Secondly, it triggers the addiction process resulting in cravings and ongoing drug use.
Psychosis and psychological disorders: Stimulant use can cause a significant long-term change in behavior, a tendency toward violence, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. It can also worsen the effects of existing mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder.
Cardiovascular risks: Stimulants impact the heart, leading to long-term consequences, including an elevated risk of strokes and heart attacks. A high body temperature can lead to a risk of hypothermia.
Changes in hormone levels: The effect on hormone levels in the brain can continue long after stimulant use has stopped. For example, suppose stimulants have been used over a long period to cause a release of dopamine. In that case, the brain may not be able to create this neurotransmitter naturally, leaving the user anxious, paranoid, and chronically depressed.

Risk of Overdose and Death

As with many substances, it is possible to overdose on stimulants with severe and life-threatening consequences. Users of stimulants in excessive quantities risk seizures, fainting, hypertension, or even death.

The risk of overdose applies to both prescribed and illegal stimulants. Amphetamines are prescribed to treat ADHD and other conditions, but they also have a detrimental impact on public health due to an increase in abuse and hospitalizations. Between 2008 and 2015, Amphetamine-related hospitalizations more than tripled, increasing from 55,447 instances to 206,180.

Methamphetamine (also known as crystal meth) is unsuitable for medical use due to its ability to produce euphoric highs very quickly, which is extremely addictive. Crystal meth is particularly dangerous; as of 2019, methamphetamine has surpassed opioids as the leading cause of overdose death in many western U.S. states.

Mixing Substances (Polysubstance Use)

Taking more than one substance at a time enhances the risk of severe health implications, overdose, and death. Polysubstance use can be unintentional if the drug has been cut with other drugs without the users’ knowledge. Other users may mix substances to intentionally increase or prolong the effects of stimulants. Taking more than one stimulant can increase the risk of:

Brain injury
Heart attack or stroke
Liver damage

One common misconception is that the high created by stimulants can be canceled out by taking depressants. This is not the case; the combination of drugs can be unpredictable and dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that stimulants and depressants can mask the effects of each other. This masking can make the user mistakenly believe that the substances have no effect and can lead to overdose.

How Do I Know if Someone Has a Stimulant Addiction?

Unless you witness substance abuse first-hand, it can be hard to know if someone has an addiction, but there are some general signs that you can look out for that apply to the misuse of stimulants:

Physical Changes

Neglecting or changing appearance: When someone abuses stimulants, it can become their main focus in life and cause them to neglect other aspects, such as personal hygiene. Crystal meth causes dryness of the mouth, leading to tooth decay and noticeable tooth loss.
Weight change: In addition to neglecting their appearance, someone with a stimulant addiction may neglect their nutrition, leading to sudden weight loss or weight gain. This is compounded by a change in appetite, one of the side effects of stimulant use.
Skin problems: Some stimulants cause skin problems that can become highly noticeable. Methamphetamine use can cause compulsive skin picking, which causes ulcers and sores.

Behavioral Changes

Lying and being secretive: Often, those with a substance use disorder hide their addiction from friends and family. They may become secretive about their whereabouts or unusually protective of their belongings and personal space.
Seeing multiple doctors: To obtain more of a prescription stimulant than is recommended, users often seek out numerous doctors or order stimulants online with a prescription.
Mood swings and aggression: The fluctuating hormone levels in a person’s brain, if they abuse stimulants, can cause mood swings and become more prone to violence.
Risky behavior: Prolonged and excessive use of stimulants can affect someone’s ability to assess risk and make rational decisions. As a result, they may do things out of character for them or risk getting into trouble.

Psychological Signs

Depression, anxiety, and paranoia: It is common for someone abusing stimulants also to suffer mental health concerns. For example, between 2015 and 2018, of those who used methamphetamine, an estimated 57.7% had a mental illness, and 25.0% reported a serious mental illness.
Hyperfocus: Hyperfocus is common in people with ADHD and those experiencing withdrawal symptoms from stimulant abuse. It causes a person to become focused on a particular object or activity for an extended period.
Enthusiastic thinking: Using stimulants in large doses can overstimulate the brain and cause someone to experience a rush of ideas, thoughts, and feelings. This can lead to the person sounding confused or delusional.
Hallucinations: Some stimulants, such as ecstasy (MDMA), have hallucinogenic properties. Unwelcome hallucinations can be experienced long after the drug’s effect has worn off.

Where Can I Find Information About Stimulant Addiction Treatment?

If you have noticed signs of addiction and think that you or a loved one may require treatment for stimulant use disorder, there are many resources available that can help, including:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is available daily to advise treatment options. Call: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357).
Rehab.com offers trusted advice and information to help you to understand more about addiction. The online locator tool lets you find local treatment providers close to you.
Your doctor can provide you with help and advice and connect you to treatment facilities in your area.
Local support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous can provide invaluable support and a peer group that understands your situation.

What Are the Treatment Options for Addiction to Stimulants?

There are many treatment centers available that specialize in stimulant addiction treatment. The most effective treatment program depends on many factors, including which stimulant, prescribed or non-prescribed, a person uses. The severity of the addiction in terms of frequency of use and dosage and whether there are any co-occurring mental health disorders or polysubstance use are also considerations. Generally, the available treatment options available:

Detoxification: Undergoing a detox is usually the first stage of the treatment process. A patient’s withdrawal symptoms are carefully monitored and managed by medical professionals.
Inpatient treatment: A patient must live at a residential rehabilitation center and partake in a series of treatments, including counseling and holistic treatment such as meditation. Treatment providers commonly offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Contingency management interventions for treating stimulant use disorder are another form of behavioral therapy that has recently been shown to be effective in treating stimulant abuse.
Outpatient treatment: This type of treatment allows patients to continue to live at home and go to work while attending a treatment program several times a week.
Aftercare: Regardless of the addiction treatment undertaken, it is essential to have an effective aftercare plan in place to support the patient’s long-term sobriety.

Many people abuse stimulants, and treatment programs to overcome stimulant addiction are widely available and effective. The first step is to seek reliable advice and guidance from a trusted resource. Finding professional help for yourself or your loved one can reduce the risks associated with stimulant addiction and dramatically improve a person’s quality of life. Freedom from stimulants is possible if you start your journey to recovery.

Stimulant Addiction